Police, community and calendar briefs for May 1, 2013

Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office detectives are hoping someone can identify a woman whose body was found recently by teenagers.

Detective Darren Norris said that at 10:15 a.m. April 22, two teens were riding ATVs in a wooded area near State Road 44 and Interstate 75 in Wildwood and saw the decomposing body.

An autopsy was conducted at the University of South Florida and it was determined that the manner of death was homicide.

A facial reconstructionist composed an image of what the woman looked like. She is described as white, between the ages 25 to 55, with red or auburn hair. She stood 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 160 pounds to 170 pounds. The name Jane was tattooed on her left shoulder. She may have worn dentures, but none were present at the time her body was found.

She was wearing a light colored floral design shirt size 3XL, gray jersey sweatpants size 36-38, pink and gray glasses and women's size 10W tennis shoes. Anyone with any information can call Norris at 569-1600 or 569-1680, or the Crime Line at 1-800-423-tips.

Police arrest 3 robbery suspects

Deputies have arrested three people and are searching for others in connection with a weekend robbery.

The victim told a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy that he was at a gas station off West State Road 40 in Ocala on Saturday night when two women sought help. He said he followed them to a nearby area, and when he got out of his vehicle, he was surrounded by men who beat him up and took his wallet, and one man hit him in the head with a pistol. He said he tried following the people, but they escaped.

On Monday, the victim called the Sheriff's Office after spotting the vehicle the women had been driving. A deputy stopped the vehicle in Belleview and the man identified the woman inside — Rebecca Perez — as one of the women who approached him at the gas station.

Deputies interviewed Perez, who told them the plan for robbing the man, according to reports. Perez was charged with robbery. The deputies also arrested Terry Rosenow and Jaime Arredondo in relation to the case.

Anyone with information about the case can call the MCSO at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Man accused of stealing from teen

Ocala police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a 14-year-old boy of his skateboard and watch.

Cary Lamar Howard, 21, was charged with armed robbery over the weekend, according to the Ocala Police Department.

The teen, who was visiting from Ecuador, told Officer Jimmy Pitman through an interpreter he was riding his white Arbor skateboard near Green Gable Apartments when a man wearing a black hoodie approached. The man lifted the hoodie, revealing a pistol, and demanded the skateboard, which the boy gave him, according to OPD. The robber demanded cash, but the victim didn't have any so the man took his watch.

The robber fled, and the boy told his family what happened.

Officer Anthony Ritz saw Howard, who matched the description of the suspect, and detained him after learning he had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. The teen identified him as the man who had robbed him.

Howard was interviewed by Detective Scott Rowe and denied the accusation. He was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Police: Teen backs into school bus

A teenage driver backing out of a driveway struck the right front tire of a loaded school bus Tuesday morning. No one was injured in the 7:28 a.m. crash at Pine Course and Dogwood Drive Course in Silver Springs Shores, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.

Cheryl Ipser Marflake, 68, of Belleview, was driving the school bus, with 54 children aboard.

Spencer Brandon Gomez, 18, of Ocala, backed out in a 2010 Ford Fusion. He was cited for improper backing.

Man accused of sexual battery

A man was charged Tuesday with sexual battery, tampering with a witness/victim, simple battery and violation of probation for simple battery with two prior convictions.

Eric John Scott, 26, was taken to the Marion County Jail.

On April 24, a 29-year-old woman told sheriff's deputies Scott had beat and raped her. She was taken to a hospital. The woman later told Detective Clint Smith she and Scott were arguing and he followed her to her room. She said he touched her and she told him to stop, then he punched her in the face several times and raped her. She said another man overheard the commotion and came into the room and confronted Scott and also called 911.

As deputies arrived, Scott ran out through a back door.

Scott later told Smith the woman hit him first and claimed the sex was consensual.

Smith learned that Scott was on probation for simple battery, after which a warrant was issued for his arrest.

COMMUNITY

Clerk’s office warns of fraudulent message

The Marion County Clerk of Courts office has been alerted by local residents to a hoax.

Chief Deputy Clerk Jack Suess said Tuesday the office had received a number of calls from residents who had gotten telephone calls or text messages with the words: “The courthouse has your name in the newspaper for a failure to appear for jury duty. This is the 24-hour number for you to check, 704-319-7254.”

People who call the number hear a stern warning about a fine and time in jail, followed by a message that says it is a hoax that can be perpetrated on others.

The Ocala Sunset Rotary Club will be dedicating a tree at the Baseline Road Trailhead in memory of the late Jim Leeward on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A movie stunt pilot and air racer, Leeward died in a plane crash at the Reno Air Race in 2011.

<p class="bold allcaps">POLICE BEAT</p>
<p><b>Police hope to identify body</b></p><p>Sumter County Sheriff's Office detectives are hoping someone can identify a woman whose body was found recently by teenagers.</p><p>Detective Darren Norris said that at 10:15 a.m. April 22, two teens were riding ATVs in a wooded area near State Road 44 and Interstate 75 in Wildwood and saw the decomposing body. </p><p>An autopsy was conducted at the University of South Florida and it was determined that the manner of death was homicide.</p><p>A facial reconstructionist composed an image of what the woman looked like. She is described as white, between the ages 25 to 55, with red or auburn hair. She stood 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 160 pounds to 170 pounds. The name Jane was tattooed on her left shoulder. She may have worn dentures, but none were present at the time her body was found.</p><p>She was wearing a light colored floral design shirt size 3XL, gray jersey sweatpants size 36-38, pink and gray glasses and women's size 10W tennis shoes. Anyone with any information can call Norris at 569-1600 or 569-1680, or the Crime Line at 1-800-423-tips.</p><p><b>Police arrest 3 robbery suspects</b></p><p>Deputies have arrested three people and are searching for others in connection with a weekend robbery.</p><p>The victim told a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy that he was at a gas station off West State Road 40 in Ocala on Saturday night when two women sought help. He said he followed them to a nearby area, and when he got out of his vehicle, he was surrounded by men who beat him up and took his wallet, and one man hit him in the head with a pistol. He said he tried following the people, but they escaped.</p><p>On Monday, the victim called the Sheriff's Office after spotting the vehicle the women had been driving. A deputy stopped the vehicle in Belleview and the man identified the woman inside — Rebecca Perez — as one of the women who approached him at the gas station.</p><p>Deputies interviewed Perez, who told them the plan for robbing the man, according to reports. Perez was charged with robbery. The deputies also arrested Terry Rosenow and Jaime Arredondo in relation to the case.</p><p>Anyone with information about the case can call the MCSO at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><b>Man accused of stealing from teen</b></p><p>Ocala police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a 14-year-old boy of his skateboard and watch.</p><p>Cary Lamar Howard, 21, was charged with armed robbery over the weekend, according to the Ocala Police Department.</p><p>The teen, who was visiting from Ecuador, told Officer Jimmy Pitman through an interpreter he was riding his white Arbor skateboard near Green Gable Apartments when a man wearing a black hoodie approached. The man lifted the hoodie, revealing a pistol, and demanded the skateboard, which the boy gave him, according to OPD. The robber demanded cash, but the victim didn't have any so the man took his watch.</p><p>The robber fled, and the boy told his family what happened.</p><p>Officer Anthony Ritz saw Howard, who matched the description of the suspect, and detained him after learning he had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. The teen identified him as the man who had robbed him.</p><p>Howard was interviewed by Detective Scott Rowe and denied the accusation. He was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p><b>Police: Teen backs into school bus</b></p><p>A teenage driver backing out of a driveway struck the right front tire of a loaded school bus Tuesday morning. No one was injured in the 7:28 a.m. crash at Pine Course and Dogwood Drive Course in Silver Springs Shores, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.</p><p>Cheryl Ipser Marflake, 68, of Belleview, was driving the school bus, with 54 children aboard.</p><p>Spencer Brandon Gomez, 18, of Ocala, backed out in a 2010 Ford Fusion. He was cited for improper backing.</p><p><b>Man accused of sexual battery</b></p><p>A man was charged Tuesday with sexual battery, tampering with a witness/victim, simple battery and violation of probation for simple battery with two prior convictions.</p><p>Eric John Scott, 26, was taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>On April 24, a 29-year-old woman told sheriff's deputies Scott had beat and raped her. She was taken to a hospital. The woman later told Detective Clint Smith she and Scott were arguing and he followed her to her room. She said he touched her and she told him to stop, then he punched her in the face several times and raped her. She said another man overheard the commotion and came into the room and confronted Scott and also called 911.</p><p>As deputies arrived, Scott ran out through a back door.</p><p>Scott later told Smith the woman hit him first and claimed the sex was consensual.</p><p>Smith learned that Scott was on probation for simple battery, after which a warrant was issued for his arrest.</p><h3>COMMUNITY</h3>
<p><b>Clerk's office warns of fraudulent message</b></p><p>The Marion County Clerk of Courts office has been alerted by local residents to a hoax.</p><p>Chief Deputy Clerk Jack Suess said Tuesday the office had received a number of calls from residents who had gotten telephone calls or text messages with the words: “The courthouse has your name in the newspaper for a failure to appear for jury duty. This is the 24-hour number for you to check, 704-319-7254.”</p><p>People who call the number hear a stern warning about a fine and time in jail, followed by a message that says it is a hoax that can be perpetrated on others.</p><p>“We don't know who is doing it, but it's not us,” Suess said.</p><p><b>Veterans meetings planned for week</b></p><p><i>Today</i></p><p>AMVETS Post 1208, officers 6:30, general meeting 7 p.m., Charles Whiteacre VFW Post 10208, 23498 NE County Road 314, Salt Springs. (546-2129)</p><p>Wall-Rives American Legion Post 58 general and auxiliary 7 p.m., 10730 U.S. 41, Dunnellon. (489-4453)</p><p>AMVETS Post 99, 7 p.m., 4805 NE 36th Ave., Ocala. (867-7173)</p><p><i>Thursday</i></p><p>Cherrywood Veterans Club, 2 p.m., 6261 SW 100th Loop, Ocala. (361-1896)</p><p>Military Officer Association of America Kingdom of the Sun Chapter, noon, Elks Lodge, 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. (237-9720)</p><p>Spruce Creek Preserve Vets Association, 4 p.m., Community Center. (861-1503)</p><p><i>Sunday</i></p><p>North Central Florida Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 2 p.m., Angela S. Santos VFW Post Hall, 9401 SW 110th St. (489-5842 or 237-1570)</p><p>Amvets Post 19, noon, 1313 E. County Road 316, Fort McCoy. Sons of Amvets, 11 a.m.(622-4449)</p><p><i>Monday</i></p><p>Belleview American Legion Post 284 and auxiliary, dinner 6 p.m. meeting 7 p.m., 5515 SE 109th St., Belleview. Dinner donation $5. (245-5832)</p><p>Marine Corps League, Marion Detachment 61, 7 p.m., 823 NW 26th St., Ocala. (229-6300 or 266-1936)</p><p>Kenneth E. Doncaster VFW Post 12070, 7 p.m., VFW Veterans Village, 13005 NE 135th St., Fort McCoy. (236-0823)</p><p><i>Tuesday</i></p><p>Marine Corps League, Ocala West Detachment 1072, 7 p.m., VFW 4781, 9401 SW 110th St., Ocala. (732-0523)</p><p>VFW Post 10733, men's auxiliary, 7 p.m., 19241 N. US Highway 441, Orange Lake (591-4359)</p><p>AmVets Post 25, 7 p.m., 16535 N. Highway 301, Citra.(595-5867)</p><p>Wall-Rives American Legion Dunnellon Young Marines, 6 p.m., 10730 U.S. 41, Dunnellon. (489-4453)</p><p>Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 466, 11 a.m., Elks Lodge, 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala; lunch to follow, $9. (817-1654)</p><p>Stonecrest Veterans Association, 2 p.m., Crest Club. (307-2839 or 307-4204)</p><p>U.S. Veterans Post 100, 6:30 p.m., 16535 N. U.S. 301 Citra. (595-5867)</p><p>Ocala Memorial American Legion Post 27 and auxiliary, 6:30 p.m., for covered dish supper, meeting follows, 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. (624-3563)</p><p><b>Sunset Rotary Club to dedicate tree</b></p><p>The Ocala Sunset Rotary Club will be dedicating a tree at the Baseline Road Trailhead in memory of the late Jim Leeward on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A movie stunt pilot and air racer, Leeward died in a plane crash at the Reno Air Race in 2011.</p><p>Visitors are welcome to attend.</p><h3>CALENDAR</h3>
<p><b>TODAY</b></p><p>GARDEN TOUR: Guided tour of the Master Gardeners' shade, butterfly, herb, vegetable and tropical demonstration gardens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at Marion County UF/IFAS Extension Service, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. (671-8400)</p><p> </p><p>COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS: Support group for those who lost a child, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at Blessed Trinity Church Elder Care building, 5 SE 17 St., Ocala. (693-3244 or 266-0837)</p><p> </p><p>ESL: Free English as Second Language classes, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, College Road Baptist Church, 5010 SW College Road, Ocala (854-6981 or 237-5741); also, First Baptist Church of Ocala 2801 SE Maricamp Road, Room 202/204, Ocala. (629-5683)</p><p> </p><p>BNI PROFIT MAKERS: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Country Club of Ocala, 6823 SE 12th Circle, Ocala. (209-1068)</p><p> </p><p>BINGO: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane. (347-5753)</p><p> </p><p>TEENS: Help plan library activities and programs, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala. (438-2580)</p><p> </p><p>TUTORING: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Christ Community Church, 37 Dogwood Road, Ocala. $1 per session. (687-2009)</p><p> </p><p>GENEALOGY HELP: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Marion County Public library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (671-8551)</p><p> </p><p>ART CLUB: For adults, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. (438-2840)</p><p> </p><p>QUILTS: Bear Paws Quilters, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. (438-2840)</p><p> </p><p>KIDS ART CLUB: For ages 6-16, 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. $1. (438-2840)</p><p> </p><p>CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 690 Silver Road, Silver Springs (687-4188)</p><p> </p><p><b>THURSDAY</b></p><p>THE POTATO: Master Gardeners, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Belleview Public library, 13145 SE County Road 484, Belleview. (438-2500)</p><p> </p><p>BAND CONCERT: Fort King Middle School Band Spring Concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, 545 NE 17th Ave., Ocala. Free. (671-4725)</p><p> </p><p>MASONS: Fort King Daylight Masonic Lodge 389, 2 p.m. Thursday, Ocala Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 3632 NE Seventh St., Ocala. (694-4196)</p><p> </p><p>AFTER HOURS: Featuring Gosia and Ali, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Free for members; $8 non-members. (291-4455 or www.appletonmuseum.org)</p><p> </p><p>MOVIE: 2 p.m. Thursday, Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala. (438-2580)</p><p> </p><p>WORKSHOP: Driving and dementia, 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Home instead Senior Care, 606 SW Third Ave., Ocala. (800-272-3900)</p><p> </p><p>WIDOWS: WOW Singles, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Latinos Y Mas, 2030 S. Pine Ave., Ocala. (861-9487 or 291-2762)</p><p> </p><p>NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: Noon, Thursday, Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview, and 2 p.m. The Church on the Square, 1051 Main St., The Villages. (245-2560)</p><p> </p><p>CTAE: Community Technical and Adult Education information session for administrative office specialist, legal administrative specialist and medical administrative specialist programs starting in July, 6 p.m. Thursday, 1014 SW Seventh Road, Ocala. (671-7200)</p><p> </p><p><b>THURSDAY AND SATURDAY</b></p><p>PET VACCINES: Florida International Teaching Zoo low-cost pet vaccinations, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Griffis Tile, 4901 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Tractor Supply, 11242 N. Williams, Dunnellon. $6 rabies, $14 distemper/parvo. (867-7788 or www.facebook.com/#!/PetVaccinations)</p><p> </p><p><i>To submit information for this list, send an e-mail to calendar@starbanner.com or visit www.ocala.com, scroll down and click on EVENTS CALENDAR on the right.</i></p>